The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-01-07


about until all semblance to the fair
tace had disappeared.
81 can't talk with you tonight,
Kate" he said; "good night"
Going to q bed of wolf skins which
lay at the back of the cabin, he flung
himself upon them and was soon
asleep.
The procession of the sunrise, with
the p~ageantry of crimson clouds and
banners OF gold, was moving over the
mountains when the sleeper awoke.
After a simple meal of oaten cake, ne
mounted the burro and started down
the canyon. A ride of a few miles
brought him to q scattered
village, consisting of slab cabins
and huts of clay. The glory of
the morning transformed che huts
and cabins into veritable fairy palaces
as he rode in the midst of them along
the narrow street of the village. The
day dragged YEARLY, as he wandered
aimlessly hither and thither over
stretches Of field and through patches
of forest beyond the little town. Re-
turning, toward nightfall, he found a
crowd OF miners and few women and
children gathered about a tall man,
who stood upon a stump OF pine at
the foot Of the village street.
He had a massive head covered with
long shaggy black hair. His eyes were
large and round, black as the wing of
a raven, and they shone like polished
| steel. His mouth was full and kindly.
A heavy black beard covered his chin.
His garb was of brown jeans, and he
wore a leathern belt about his waist.
He was David Broxton, an evangelist
of the mountains. He was speaking
in a rich, deep, powerful voice, and he
said: THE voice OF God crying in the
wilderness, repent We, for the Kingdom
of Heaven is at handl"
He paused, and the staring people
were as silent as the hush which eight
cen hundred years ago fell upon furi-
Gus waters when a divine voice cried
Peace, be stilli'
The man upon the burro drew near
to the preacher and looked fxedly at
him.
The speaker continued, almighty
God, because this people have forgot
ten thee and have burned incense to
vanity; because the evil things done
by them are in number as the needles
of the pines; because they have refused
| to hear thy words and have gone aft
er deceit and lust and murder, 10! |
am come as thine ambassador to
| speak to them; to warn them to turn
from their sins and come unto thee,
lest they be destroyed by the sword
of thy wrath and they be as rotten
leaves in the clefts of the mountains
The face of the man upon the burro
turned CHASTITY white.
Drawing asmall leather bound Bible
from an inner pocket of his coat, the
evangelist opened it and read: "If
any man hate his neighbor, and lie in
wat for him, and rise up against and
smite him mortally that he die, and
feeth into one of these cities, then the
elders of this city shall send and fetch
him thence, and deliver him into the
hand of the avenger of blood, that he
may die"
With a cry OF mingled pain and rage,
the man from the mountain canyon
sprang from the back ofthe burro and
advanced nearer the speaker, while
the animal, frightened by the sudden
movement of his rider, dashed through
the crowd and q to a thicket of
pines some distance down the road.
The disturbance caused the preach
er to pause, but he soon continued.
sThine eve shall not pity him, but
life shall 60 for life-so shalt thou
put away the guilt of innocent blood
from Israel"
"It's a lie? He was guilty! There
amt no innocent blood on Israeli
He was guiltyl"
1t was the man from the canyon who
with excited gestures, shouted these
words. The crowd, startled and
amazed, pressed forward, and some
were about to lay hands upon him.
During his career David Broxton
had witnessed many manifestations oil
emotion, when the hammer of con
science had struck upon the door OF
the soul, but this outburst exceeded any
thing in his experience hitherto, and
for q moment he was completely
overcome. Recovering he calmly
said: Lay no hand upon this
brother. He is staggering under
some burden crater than he can
bear. Go from this place and leave
him with me. l will speak again to
you on the morrow. Go, and may
grace, mercy, and peace 60 with you"
Silently the little gathering OF list
eners dispersed, and the man whose
soul had cried out was left alone with
the preacher.
'Friend," said tne latter, t'tell me
your trouble that Imay help you"
"Who told you there was inherent
blood on Israeli" asked the still
agitated man.
III speak but the words of God" re-
nl;ed the preacher. sLay your burden